I looked at her beautiful face nestled into Manmi’s pillows. She took a breath now, pulled her knees in, wrapped her arms around one pillow, and curled into a fetal position, snuggling into the covers. Unbidden, my lips parted into a smile. Rot. Our bond was nothing more than a covenant to ensure commitment to a bargain. And yet. I looked at Nahomie again. I was ready to wake her up and replace that pillow with myself.
“No,” Saundeiah grabbed my arm as I took a step towards the bed. “She needs… to rest, mi Roi.”
Yeah, and I needed her.
Another violent thrash of my powers sent me reeling.
I snarled, bending over as if I’d been punched in my gut.
“Rot.”
“Nadege, quick!” Saundeiah snapped. “Get me his tonic. Now!”
Gentle hands squeezed my shoulders, trying to stabilize me.
“Breathe through it, mi Roi. I am right here.”
I clutched my stomach.
“Tassarion.”A pregnant pause. A freezing chill brushed across my shoulders.“My Slave.”
No, no, no.
“Open the Gate. Give me the Seraphim. This will all go away.”
I ignored the voice that plagued me every dawn and twinight. The voice of an angel foul enough to defile my blood, hoping I would break and offer my island for my freedom. Fool. I would never be so repugnant.
I would die before Mortevain would ever be given to Zemshaza. I trembled violently, gripping my chest. My blood burned. An acidic trail snaked through my body, setting me aflame from within.
“Saunie,” I whimpered.
I fell to my knees, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. Stars. How I desperately missed Manmi. Papi. Both of them would have known what to do. How to make this stop. How to rid me of this torture and pain. I also thought of the Infinite.
How much had I offended him for this to be my plight every dawn?
I crashed onto the floor, my face buried in the rug. I howled with pain. Tears burned my eyes, but I would not let them fall. Not again. I tried to breathe. Tried to gain control.
“Give. Me. The Gate.Andthe Nebulari, Slave.”
Primal rage surged within me.
I wouldneverlet him have Nahomie.
A wave of darkness swelled within me. It was like poison to my bones. My vision faded as another essence began taking up space in my mind.
“No!” Saundeiah cried from somewhere above me. Then. “Madame. Madame Nahomie, wake up!”
“Saundeiah?”
Nahomie’s groggy voice filled my ears. The sound of her voice was enough to help me breathe. I closed my eyes and took a breath. Then another.
“What in the burning stars is going on?”
Her voice. Blessed lights. Thank the Infinite for my wife’svoice.
I held onto it as if my life depended on it.
“Monstaru?” A deep yawn. “Saundeiah, what is wrong with my king?”
